(un)Lucky Number 7
April 30, 2008
There has been tremendous media coverage of the plastic polycarbonate and the evils of the chemical BPA, a component used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate. Many consumers are hearing conflicting evidence regarding the effects of BPA on adult humans. Some experts may say the exposure is within safe FDA limits and others say any BPA exposure is detrimental. Usually as a closing statement someone will say, “Don’t use plastics that are labeled with the number 7 recycling sign.”
Well, what does the number 7 mean anyway? Sometimes it tells us right on the product: OTHER.
Well, what is OTHER? Literally, anything other than numbers 1-6.
Here is a list of the recycling codes
You can find extended descriptions of each resin category from the Plastics Web
1: PET, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE, APET, RPET)
2: HDPE, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE, PEHD)
3: PVC, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, Vinyl)
4: LDPE, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE, PELD)
5: PP, Polypropylene
6: PS, Polystyrene
7: Other, including but not limited to
Polycarbonate (PC)- common plastic associated with BPA exposure
Copolyester- the increasing popular substitute for polycarbonate water bottles, usually advertised as ‘BPA free’
Polylactic acid (PLA)- a biodegradable plastic derived from renewable resources such as cornstarch or sugars.
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)- petroleum based plastic used to make light but rigid products
Nylon (PA)- generic name for a family of polyamides makes anything from pantyhose to skateboard wheels
Acrylic (PMMA)- petroleum based plastic, light and cheap, but brittle under impact
The list can go on, but the point is all number 7’s are not created equal. How can one tell? Sometimes if you read the package it will tell you. Many manufactures that use PLA (the biodegradable plastic) want to advertise the fact that they used a renewable resource for their product. If you are not sure, you can contact the manufacturer as ask them. You deserve to be an informed consumer!
Stumble it!
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May 17th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
My grandma is the first to have told me about this. This is how rumors get started people taking little bits of truth and putting their own “spin” or take on it. Because I have a curious mind I always research things for myself. Here’s a few things I found online. I’m not pro or con on BPA just passing along what I’ve found so far. Search Bisphenol-A at http://www.fda.gov & http://www.cdc.gov here’s a couple links for some good bedtime reading, lol. http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html
http://www.bisphenol-a.org/index.html
May 17th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
My grandma is the first to have told me about this. This is how rumors get started people taking little bits of truth and putting their own “spin” or take on it. Because I have a curious mind I always research things for myself. Here’s a few things I found online. I’m not pro or con on BPA just passing along what I’ve found so far. Search Bisphenol-A at http://www.fda.gov & http://www.cdc.gov here’s a couple links for some good bedtime reading, lol. http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html
http://www.bisphenol-a.org/index.html